How to receive mail if have no fixed address?

GervisLooper

I would like to live out of my van soon. I have calculated I will save almost a grand a month doing this which I am sure you MSEers will be able to appreciate. Are there any ideas you know to receive mail?

I can use my mum's and get it when I am dropping back there or she can open but is there a way to get packages while on the road?

I have read about poste restante with royal mail. Not sure if it will be suitable.

I would like something like amazon lockers but not amazon since I don't use them and that I could send any type of package or post to major towns/cities.

I will only be travelling in england or wales or general uk.

marcia_

 My sister was homeless and received mail and claimed benefits at the local homeless support centre. 

GervisLooper

marcia_ said:

 My sister was homeless and received mail and claimed benefits at the local homeless support centre. 

Thanks, though the same limitations would apply as to using my mum's place in that I want something flexible where I can receive it from wherever I may be staying near at the time, which will be changing.

Maybe an unrealistic goal.

casper_gutman

There are commercial services that will provide you with a mailing address and which will hold mail and forward it to wherever you are temporarily residing for a fee. For example, Mail Forwarding Services, parcel receiving, (mbe.co.uk)

This could be expensive if you have a lot of mail, but might achieve what you need and should work out to a lot less than a grand a month. Of course, you might be able to persuade your mum to do this for you for less money!

theoretica

If you are ordering things you could use services which do click and collect and have them delivered to a convenient shop - but I don't think you can have that for 'any package or post'. 

Another service is https://www.expost.uk/van-post/

kipsterno1

Have you looked on any more dedicated forums? My first thought was people living on narrowboats and moving around must have the same issue.

DingerUK

GervisLooper said:

I would like to live out of my van soon. I have calculated I will save almost a grand a month doing this which I am sure you MSEers will be able to appreciate. Are there any ideas you know to receive mail?

I can use my mum's and get it when I am dropping back there or she can open but is there a way to get packages while on the road?

I have read about poste restante with royal mail. Not sure if it will be suitable.

I would like something like amazon lockers but not amazon since I don't use them and that I could send any type of package or post to major towns/cities.

I will only be travelling in england or wales or general uk.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/poste-restante

GervisLooper

Ding

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/poste-restante

Yes I just looked again the the issues are:

If you live in the UK, you'll also need to show proof of your address as well as your passport.

I have neither. Passport long expired (no intention of traveling out of country so don't wanna pay to renew) and will have no fixed address.

bryanb

Use the address on your driving licence/ van v5

Undervalued

kipsterno1 said:

Have you looked on any more dedicated forums? My first thought was people living on narrowboats and moving around must have the same issue.

I used to know a chap that lived on his narrowboat and he collected his mail from the local sorting office which is (was?) a service the Royal Mail offered. However, except for holidays his boat was normally in one place. When he was away it was no different from a householder being away from town with mail piling up on their doormat.

If the OP is going to travel a lot and not (often) return to a base then it would need to be a commercial service who would accept his mail and forward regular parcels of mail to be collected from a DPD or similar pickup point.

Undervalued

GervisLooper said:

Ding

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/poste-restante

Yes I just looked again the the issues are:

If you live in the UK, you'll also need to show proof of your address as well as your passport.

I have neither. Passport long expired (no intention of traveling out of country so don't wanna pay to renew) and will have no fixed address.

I realise this is a moneysaving forum but a passport costs less than ten quid a year and could save no end of hassle!